Locator system and method

Abstract

A locator system includes two main components, namely, (1) a beacon tag that is readily attached to a person or article, and (2) a transportable finder or receiver / processor for sensing the relative position of the tag and indicating changes in that relative position to a user. The method for locating a person or article preferably uses an audible feedback signal to the user for informing the user, when moving, whether the relative position of the beacon tag is getting closer to the finder or farther from the finder. The locator system includes at least one beacon tag comprising a transmitter programmed to transmit a unique coded pulse signal. The beacon tag is housed in a lightweight portable envelope or container and includes a battery, an antenna, a large programmed gate array and a frequency reference (e.g., a crystal oscillator).

Description

RELATED PATENT AND PENDING PATENT APPLICATION INFORMATION[0001]This application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 60 / 555,301, filed Mar. 23, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to locator devices and more particularly pertains to a new locator system for locating persons or articles in potentially hazardous situations or environments.[0004]2. Discussion of the Prior Art[0005]Conventional approaches used to locate individuals or articles in hazardous situations are based on simply looking for or listening for the individual or article. These approaches are effective for some “missing first responder” scenarios, but there are occasions when a missing individual or article may go unnoticed. One scenario where this is possible is in a collapsed or burning building. A noisy environment accompanying damage control or rescue operations in ba...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system allows for reliable and efficient location of individuals or articles in hazardous situations by providing intuitive audio and visual cues, enhancing search efficiency and reducing the risk of missing persons or items during rescue operations.

Problems solved by technology

These approaches are effective for some “missing first responder” scenarios, but there are occasions when a missing individual or article may go unnoticed.

A noisy environment accompanying damage control or rescue operations in bad weather or at night makes it difficult to see or hear a missing person.

The problem is compounded when many people are responding and considerable time may pass before one person is recognized as missing.

While the methods and devices disclosed in these patents do fulfill their own narrow objectives, these patents do not disclose an economical, reliable, truly robust and easy to use locator system suitable for use in finding persons or articles in hazardous situations such as a burning or collapsed structure.

This invention suffers from the following limitations: it has a complex design, it is limited to locating aircraft as it is extremely difficult for a person to orient oneself along a displayed particular angular displacement and the displayed range does not carry any particular significance to a person who is trying to locate an item or a person.

Hence, it is only suitable for normal domestic and office conditions.

In addition, it does not give any visual alerting means to assist in locating the object.

This invention suffers from the following drawbacks: the transmitter is always radiating a signal which represents a drain on the apparatus battery, it is complex in design and construction, it needs a central processing units with sophisticated algorithms and it is impractical.

Also if this code is inadvertently erased, the locator will be obsolete.

In addition, the partially lowered vehicle window necessary for installing the vehicle's exterior light source represents a security issue for the vehicle.

In addition, the light source may accumulate dirt and grit and due to being subjected to the external environmental conditions may malfunction frequently.

All of these prior art systems have proven inadequate in many hazardous situations, however, and for a number of reasons.

These challenges have rendered the prior art systems unsuitable for use in many hazardous situations.

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